One of the asylum seekers, a Syrian boy, is described by his brother - who is already living in London - as having been "traumatised" by his experiences of war and "desperate" to reach his family in Britain.

Around 50 campaigners, including Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, met inside St Andrew's Church in Holborn to remember an Afghan teenager who is reported to have died crossing between Dunkirk and Britain in recent weeks.

The star cut a solemn figure (Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been urged to help (Image: Getty Images)

The youth, said to be named Masud, was thought to have been trying to get to his sister in the UK.

Chaplin, who was tearful after the service, said: "I would urge David Cameron to consider what kind of society he is prepared to defend.

"The values we are killing people for overseas, human rights, decent, dignity these are the very things at risk now, on our shores."

She added: "This isn't just going to go away. We cannot wash our hands of this issue. This isn't a refugee crisis, this is a humanitarian crisis."

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She appeared on TV today (Image: Rex)

Campaigners from Citizens UK, who are supporting the children's asylum case, are hopeful it can pave the way for more vulnerable young people to be brought to safety in Britain.

George Gabriel from Citizens UK said in the Jungle were "hundreds of children desperate to reach their families in Britain".

He added: "It's really important that these families who have been torn apart by war aren't forced to choose between traffickers on one hand and terrible train tracks on the other"